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Results tagged ‘ Dmitri Young ’

The Nationals did not offer arbitration to any of their free agents, which include catcher Josh Bard, right-hander Livan Hernandez, outfielder Austin Kearns, left-hander Ron Villone and first baseman Dmitri Young.

None of the players were Type A or B free agents — rankings are based on a player’s performance during the previous two seasons.

In the last two seasons, Young played in only 50 games because of illness and injury. His best season with the Nationals was in 2007 when hit .320 with 13 home runs and 74 RBIs, earning National League Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Villone is arguably the only Nationals free agent, who has a chance of coming back to the organization. Manager Jim Riggleman called the reliever a leader by example, because he wants to pitch on a regular basis and watches the game from the dugout after completing his work on the mound. Villone pitched in 63 games and had a 4.25 ERA.

“Ronnie sets a great example,” Riggleman said in August. “He takes the ball more than anybody. He is 39 years old, but he is willing to pitch every day, which I think says a lot. It indicates to some other pitchers that this guy has been around a long time.”

Kearns was a great teammate and worked hard, but one could argue that he was the biggest disappointment in Nationals history when it came to his offense. He came to Washington with a lot of hype after then -general manager Jim Bowden acquired him from the Reds in July of 2006.

The former GM predicted that Kearns would hit 40 home runs and drive in over 100 runs in a season, but that never happened. Kearns best season with the Nationals was in 2007, when he hit .266 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs. A lot of baseball experts felt he was too vulnerable to inside pitches.

Injuries took a toll on Kearns during the next two seasons. He played only 86 games in 2008 because of elbow and foot problems.

This season was the worst season of his career, hitting .195 with three home runs and 17 RBIs.

Hernandez joined the Nationals as a free agent on Aug. 26 after the Mets released him six days earlier. His job was to give the Nationals innings and be a role model to the young pitching staff. Hernandez pitched 48 2/3 innings and went 2-4 with a 5.36 ERA.

When catcher Jesus Flores missed most of the season with a right shoulder injury, Bard found himself in a platoon situation with Wil Nieves. Bard played in 90 games and hit .230 with two home runs and 31 RBIs.

Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young is out for the season because of a torn left quad.

Young, 35, hurt the quad running out a single for Double-A Harrisburg on July 19th. He then went to Washington to have an MRI, which revealed the tear. Young, who is currently rehabbing the quad in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was hitting .241 with two RBIs for Harrisburg.

Young is in the last year of a two-year, $10 million contract and has yet to play a Major League game this season. It’s doubtful he will return to the Nationals as a player next season.

Young played three seasons for the organization. His best season with Washington was in 2007. In 136 games, Young hit .320 with 13 home runs and 74 RBIs. He ended up winning Comeback Player of the Year honors that year.

Last season, Young was limited to 50 games because of a lower back sprain and complications with diabetes, which is currently under control.

Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young started his rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast Nationals on Friday and went 0-for-1 with a walk against the Mets. It was Young’s first game of the season after spending almost three months in extended Spring Training.

Young, who is currently on the disabled list because of back and hip problems, will play three games in the Gulf Coast League and then play for Double-A Harrisburg.

Young will be in the Minor Leagues for 20 days, and then the Nationals must decide where he fits in with the Major League club. As of right now, there doesn’t appear to be room for Young because Nick Johnson is the starting first baseman with Adam Dunn as the backup.

“You never know. There could be a trade or an injury,” said a baseball source on Young chances of playing for the big club.

In other news, outfielder Lastings Milledge also played in the Gulf Coast game against the Mets. It was his first appearance since breaking his hand on May 11 as a member of Triple A Syracuse.

Outfielder Josh Willingham, on the bereavement list because of the death of his brother, Jon, is not expected back with team until the weekend series against the Blue Jays. Players on the BL have three to seven days before returning to the team.

“He has a few tough days [down in Alabama]. He is going to use the full seven days,” manager Manny Acta said.

Dmitri Young is still working out at the Nationals’ Spring Training complex, but is expected to begin his rehab assignment within a week. Once he gets to Triple-A Syracuse, the Nationals will have 20 days to decide if Young will play for the Major League team. Young, who makes $5 million, is a free agent after this season.

Left-hander Scott Olsen, on the disabled list because of a sore left shoulder, is scheduled to come off the disabled list sometime next week. But the team wants to see him throw at least five innings for Syracuse before he is activated. Olsen has thrown no more than three inning since he started his rehab assignment

Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young continues to play extended Spring Training games. In fact, he played nine innings on Friday and is close to a rehab assignment, according to acting general manager Mike Rizzo.

Young will most likely spend 20 days with Triple-A Syracuse. Young has missed the start of the season because of lower back and left hip injuries.

Once Young is in game shape, the Nationals have to decide how Young will fit in with the big club. As of now, there doesn’t appear to be any room for him. Nick Johnson is the starting first baseman, while Adam Dunn remains the backup.

In other news, right-hander Terrell Young, the team’s Rule 5 pick, continues to rehab his right shoulder and there is no timetable as to when he will pitch in a game.

Once Young is healthy, the Nationals must decide whether to keep him or send him back to the Reds. The Nationals could also acquire his services through a trade.

Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman had a setback on Friday. His left hamstring was stiff, and the Nationals will make a decision on Saturday to determine if he will go on the disabled list. Guzman suffered a left hamstring strain in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Phillies on Monday.

Facing Phillies closer Brad Lidge to lead off the inning, Guzman singled down the right-field line. As he started running the bases, Guzman felt pain in his leg, but he kept running hard. As he reached first base, it looked like Guzman would try for second, but he stopped after the pain in his leg worsened.

If Guzman is placed on the DL, the team most likely will bring up infielder Alex Cintron, who is 9-for-18 [.474] for Triple-A Syracuse.

First baseman Dmitri Young is still at extended Spring Training in Viera, Fla. He still has some pain in his back and right hip. There is no timetable as to when he will start his rehab assignment.

The Nationals placed second baseman Anderson Hernandez and first baseman Dmitri Young on the 15-day disabled list on Friday.

Anderson suffered a left hamstring strain against the Braves on March 25 and still felt pain in the hamstring when he took groundballs a week later.

Young has had back and hip problems for most of Spring Training, and he said recently he was ready to be on the Opening Day roster. But the team felt otherwise. He will spend three weeks in extended Spring Training.

With outfielder Wily Pena on waivers, the Nationals have decided to place first baseman Dmitri Young back on the 40-man roster.

Assistant general manager Mike Rizzo said that Young earned the spot because he can still hit and came to camp in shape. Young was taken off the 40-man roster during the offseason because the team needed to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft.

Young will most likely start the season in the Minor Leagues because he is not in game shape. He has not played in an exhibition game since early March because of back problems.

Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young took batting practice on Friday morning at Space Coast Stadium, marking the first time since early March that Young was able to do any baseball activities.

Young, who took 30 swings, has missed most of Spring Training because of a sore back. He has played in three games and is 0-for-4 during the exhibition season. There isn’t a timetable on when Young will play in a game.

However, getting healthy may be too late for Young. The chances of him making the 25-man roster are slim. The team appears set with Nick Johnson as the starting first baseman with Adam Dunn and Ronnie Belliard as the backups.

Asked if it was too late for Young to make the Opening day roster, manager Manny Acta said, “Almost, yeah. He has to have a lot of at-bats and be on the field. But you know what? Unless he is ready to go on the field and play in the game, we will not know.”

“If he makes the club as a bench guy, he probably doesn’t need as much action or at-bats as a guy who is going to be up there everyday. He probably doesn’t need the stamina to play nine innings. We have to wait until he is healthy.”

First baseman Dmitri Young shook every reporters hand on Wednesday, but announced he would not talk to the media for the foreseeable future. A team spokesman said Young doesn’t want to say anything until he is on the 25-man roster or no longer on the team.

Last November, the Nationals outrighted Young to Triple-A Syracuse. Young elected not to test the free-agent market and stay with the team. Young is owed $5 million this season.

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